News Flash Asia from September 22, 2025

Supertyphoon Ragasa threatens Southeast Asia

Super Typhoon Ragasa, with peak winds of around 215 km/h (gusts up to approximately 265 km/h), is heading towards Southeast Asia – southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong are particularly affected. In China, around 400,000 people have already been evacuated ; schools have been closed and flights canceled. Authorities are preparing for damage and further evacuations.

Floods and environmental problems

In Indonesia, particularly on Bali, torrential rains have led to flooding and landslides. Hundreds of people have been evacuated, and infrastructure has been severely damaged. Other parts of South Asia are also experiencing an increase in natural disasters – a sign of how severely the region is increasingly affected by extreme weather.

Political tensions and conflicts

• India vs. Pakistan at the Asia Cup : During the cricket Super Four match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav repeatedly refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, a move seen as an expression of ongoing bilateral tensions. Furthermore, comments made by Pakistani sports commentators after the defeat against India caused outrage – references to violence and provocations were publicly criticized.

• Economic Development in Southeast Asia : An analysis sees the region in a phase of economic downturn. Once considered an attractive alternative to China ("China plus one"), Southeast Asia is increasingly suffering from declining expectations: lower export figures, weaker stock markets, structural problems with employment, and strong dependencies. Some countries, like Vietnam and Malaysia, are still faring somewhat better, while others, like Indonesia and Thailand, are struggling more.

Economy and market movements

A notable trend was the upswing in tech and AI companies: Oracle, for example, benefited significantly, which influenced a rally in Asian technology stocks (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea). At the same time, however, market sentiment was mixed – India, in particular, suffered from concerns about US visa regulations and trade tensions.

Miscellaneous

• Sporting highlight : Sri Lanka achieved a hard-fought victory over Hong Kong in the Asia Cup, largely thanks to a strong performance from Pathum Nissanka.

• Astronomical event : The total lunar eclipse was visible across large parts of Asia and could also be admired in Europe. It was particularly long for India – approximately 82 minutes of totality.